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FORT WORTH, Texas ― Retirement is, perhaps, the most difficult
topic for any professional athlete to talk about.

Brendon Clark, 32, is the latest professional
bull rider to announce his pending retirement from the PBR. The
11-year veteran from Australia announced his plans to retire from
bull riding at the conclusion of the 2013 season.

"It's hard to know in this sport when the end is coming," said
Clark, who will turn 33 in September. "Thinking about it, this is
probably going to be my last year, which is a hard thing to
say.

"I want to walk away from the sport when I'm ready. I don't want
the sport to make me walk away. By that, I mean, I don't want to
ride until I'm not good enough to be here."

For the past few years Clark has dealt with ongoing hand issues
and after experiencing only soreness last season, he hurt his right
hand again at the first Built Ford Tough Series event in New
York.

"I just think as a professional athlete you have
to recognize when it's time."

This past weekend, in Sacramento, Calif., he posted a Top 5
finish and is currently ranked 19th in the world standings.

Although he has discussed the situation with his wife Alison and
a few close friends and family members, like so many athletes
before him, Clark avoided using the word retirement and said only,
"I'm thinking this is probably going to be my last year.

"It's extremely tough," he continued. "I just think as a
professional athlete you have to recognize when it's time."

Clark's best statistical season came in 2004 when he finished
eighth in the world. That year he set career marks for qualified
rides (37), riding average (47.95 percent), Top 5 finishes (5), Top
10 finishes (11) and earned his first of three BFTS event wins.

His most recent BFTS win came in 2010 in Charlottesville, Va.,
after winning a PBR-record four consecutive sanctioned events when
he claimed Touring Pro Division wins at West Jordan, Utah;
Lancaster, Calif.; St. Paul, Ore., and Greeley, Colo.

He's ridden in more than twice as many BFTS events (211 to date)
as any other Australian in PBR history and is arguably the second
most-popular rider to come from Australia behind only former World
Champion and mentor Troy Dunn.

In 10 previous seasons Clark has qualified for the World Finals
nine times.

Prior to his announcement, Clark had only shared his plan with
his wife Allison, his parents and immediate family, and close
friends Luke Snyder and Justin
McBride.

McBride's decision to retire in the prime of his career, at the
conclusion of the 2008 season, was a major influence on Clark's own
decision-making. McBride was 29 years old when decided to walk away
from the sport at a time in his career that many felt as though he
was leaving one, perhaps multiple, world titles on the table.

The two-time World Champion remains an impressionable friend and
confidante to Clark.

"This year is time for me," Clark said. "I've had fun and there
are other things I want to do in my life. Bull riding has always
been everything I've ever done and I love it, but my body just
can't do that at this level. Unfortunately it's a tough sport on
your body and if you can last 10 years in any sport you're doing
good ― let alone bull riding.

"I'm happy with where I'm at right now and it's going to be a
fun year."

Clark has posted solid career numbers.

To date he's recorded more than 200 qualified rides (207) and
four times he's had a season-long riding average of more than 40
percent, 50 career Top 10 finishes, 20 career Top 5 finishes and
career earnings approaching $1 million.

In recent years, injuries have made it more difficult and Clark
admitted last year he "had to fight for it" in order to make it
back to the BFTS after being cut and eventually qualify for the
World Finals.

The toughest part of walking away is no longer being in the
locker room and the camaraderie with fellow riders.

He noted the energy from the crowd this past Friday and
Saturday, in Sacramento, Calif., as being something he'll equally
miss, while not having to travel each and every weekend "might be a
blessing."

"I'm going to give it everything I (have) this year ― regardless
of win, lose or draw ― I want to know that I'm going to go out
hard," said Clark, who spoke of this being a joint decision with
his wife, "so we both decided that's the decision we're going to
make. This year I'm going to work harder than I ever have and focus
on bull riding.

"I think it's going to make this year fun."

Clark acknowledged he saw the relief Chris
Shivers felt a year ago when he made his intentions known
early in the 2012 season.

He's hoping that by having squelched any talk of whether this
would be his last season will help him to focus on the enjoying the
last season of something he's done for the better part of his
entire life.

Clark recently began preparing for an alternate career involving
reined cow horse training, which is one of the most disciplined
horse training events. Reined cow horses are well-trained horses
that riders can make do whatever they want, but also able to break
cows.

Although he's only just begun learning the craft, Clark said the
competition provides the same sort of adrenaline rush as bull
riding.

A prolific user of social media, PBR fans may have noticed his
regular use of the hash tag #EyeOnThePrize, which is his daily
reminder of the importance of having small goals that lead to
larger goals.

In 2012, his "prize" was to qualify for the World Finals. This
year, the "prize" is to qualify for a 10th Finals and, in the
process, surpass $1 million in career earnings. With $969,087.53
already in total earnings, Clark is likely to become the 27th rider
in PBR history to reach the milestone.

"Ten years ago, when I left Australia I had no idea if I was
going to be good enough to win a $1,000."

He later added, "We all know that good things are going to come
to an end. I think it's the right time to tell everybody."